Former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has opened up on his difficult period at Anfield, and has suggested that he was 'badly coached' and was made to feel 'alone.'
The 29-year-old has endured a varying career, from his illustrious and exciting years as a promising teenager at Ajax, to his disappointing period on Merseyside where he never really lived up to expectations, leaving in 2011 after a four-year stint.
Now, following a short spell away from the limelight in the United Arab Emirates, the Dutchman appears to be back to showing what he can really do with La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna, however Babel has suggested that in his younger years at Liverpool, he found it hard to settle and had no support network to turn to for advice.
Speaking toAS, Babel spoke of the poor style of management at the Reds, and how that affected him: "I think I was badly coached, neither the coach nor the coaching staff advised me well.
"I joined Liverpool when I was 20, but no one helped me. I was alone" https://t.co/qhKBVb6ud3 ¦ Depor's Ryan Babel chats to AS. pic.twitter.com/aetQ80jiDL
"I was 20-years-old went I went to the Premier League. When you are 20, you need from other people, you need people to talk to you. But when I went over there, nobody helped me.
"I was alone, and that's difficult for any young player. Not everyone is Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo."